Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32272: Farming in Orbit: How Anabaena Could Power Space Agriculture

Could a cyanobacterium be the future of space farming? The Anabaena experiment, led by Astromeda Space from Bangalore, examined how this nitrogen-fixing microorganism grows in microgravity aboard the ISS. The goal was to evaluate its potential as a sustainable component in closed-loop life support and agriculture systems in space.

Anabaena plays a crucial role in Earth's ecosystems by producing oxygen and enriching soil with nitrogen. If it can thrive in orbit, it might be used to support long-duration missions by generating oxygen, recycling waste, and growing food.

This experiment is a major step toward biological self-sufficiency in space. It not only contributes to understanding space-based agriculture but also offers a model for sustainable systems on Earth. The findings could help develop resilient farming systems for arid and remote regions.

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